Motor design sign with electric bulbs



July 18, 1939. s, MICEL. 2,166,818

MOTOR DES-IGN SIGN WITH ELECTRIC BULBS Filed July 28, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 1 D lJ l J ll L] 24 i 25 l'l INVENTOR 4 39C 25 $4 l (40 sd! meen' July 18, 1939. s MlCEL! 2,166,818

MOTOR DSIGN SIGN WITH ELECTRIC BULBS F'iled`JLlly 28,-1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR 5cl Miceli BY g ATTORNEY Patented July 18, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Salvatore Miceli, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application July 28, 1938, Serial No. 221,860

3 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a motor design sign with electric bulbs.

More specifically, the invention proposes' the 5 construction of a motor design sign characterized by a body having a plurality of cylinders with open sides and a pistonV in each cylinder viewable through the open sides as they move up and down therein.

Still further it is proposed to provide a crank shaft driven by an electric motor and having the pistons connected therewith for reciprocating the pistons within the cylinders in a specific relationship with respect to each other.

Still further it is proposed to provide a hollow top portion between the top end of each piston and the top wall of the cylinder and in which a red lamp and a; green lamp are mounted in such a manner that the red lamp will be extended when the piston reaches the top of its up stroke, and the green lamp will be extended when the piston moves downward.

It is further proposed to mount the lamps on the end of a lever pivotally supported intermey diate of its ends and associated with an electric `circuit for lighting the lamps in their lowered positions.

A further object ofthe invention is to provide a glass front on each of the pistons and behind which a white lamp is mounted and :viewable therethrough for permiting the movement of the pistons to be easily followed as they move up and down within the cylinders.

For further comprehension of the invention,

and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. l is a front elevational view of a motor design sign constructed according to this invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 2 2 of Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of a portion of Fig. 4, but illustrating a different position of the parts. Fig. 6 is a` sectional viewon the line 6--6 of Fig. 4.

(Cl, l10--139) Fig. 7 is a schematic wiring diagram of the device.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to a portion of Fig. 1 but illustrating a further modification of the invention. 5

Fig. 9 is a sectional view on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a view taken on the line Ill-I0 of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a schematic wiring diagram of the 10 device.

The motor design sign with electric bulbs includes a body I0 having a plurality of cylinders II formed therein and having open sides Ila. The body I0 is also formed with an open side Illa 15 adjacent the open sides IIa of the cylinders ll. The open side 10a of the body I0 is closed by means of a pane of glass I2 extending thereacross and held in position by means of screws I3. The hollow body Ill is mounted upon a base 20 I3 shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

A piston I4 is slidably mounted in each of the cylinders I I and is adapted to be moved vertically upwards and downwards within the cylinders. The pistons I4 are formed with an open side I4a 25 adjacent the open side IIa of the cylinders Il.

A, piece of glass I5 is extended across the open side I4a and securely held in position therein by the edges of the opening |411.

A means is provided for reciprocating the pis- 30 tons I4 in a specific relationship with respect to each other and comprises a crank shaft I6 having a plurality of oppositely disposed oset portions I6a. Each of the pistons I4 has a connecting rod Il. The upper ends of the connecting 35 rods I1 are pivotally connected, one with each of the pistons I4. The bottom ends of the connecting rods are each pivotally connected with one of the offset portions IISa of the crank shaft I6. One end I6b of the crank shaft I6 extends 40 from the adjacent-end of the base I3 and is provided with a gear I8. A motor I9 is mounted upon the'base I3 and has its drive shaft 20 extending therefrom and superimposed above the end IID of the crank shaft I6. A gear 2I is 45 mounted upon the extended drive shaft 2D and meshes with the gear I8' for driving the crank shaft i6. The other end I6c of the crank shaft extends from the other end of the base I3 and has a balance wheel 22 mounted thereon. The offset 50 portions I6St of the crank shaft I6 are so positioned with relation to each other that every other piston I4 will be up within its cylinder Il while the other pistons will be down within their cylinders Il. 55

.the red lamp 23.

Each of the cylinders has a hollow portion IIb extending between the top end of the cylinders I4 when in its "upi position and the top of the cylinder II. A red Ylamp 23 and a green lamp 24 is mounted within each of the hollow top portions III?. A downwardly extending lug 25 extends from the top of the cylinder II. A lever 26 is located within each of the cylinders I I. Each of the levers 26 is pivotally mounted intermediate of its ends upon the bottom end of the lug 25 located within the cylinder II. Each of these levers is identical in construction and has a red` bulb mounted at one end on one side of the pivot and a green bulb mounted on the other end on the other side of the pivot.

A downwardly extending member 21 for eachof the cylinders II has its top end pivotally connected with one end of the lever 26. This pivotal connection is accomplished by means of a peg 28 engaging an elongated slot 29 formed in the lever 26. Each of the members 21 has an offset portion 21a against which the top end of the piston I4 is adapted to strike when reaching its up position for pivoting the lever 26 for lowering When the piston I4 moves downwards a means is provided for pivoting the lever to cause the green lamp 24 to be exposed. This means comprises a clip 30 fixedly attached to the top of the piston I4 and adapted to engage the offset portionas shown in Fig. 4 for pulling the member 21 downwards to pivot the lever 26 and expose the green lamp.

The member 21 has alportion 21b extending downwards within a hollow Ilb formed in the body Ill to the rear of each of the cylinders II. A short lever 3| is pivotally mounted intermediate of its ends by. means of a pin 32 at the bottom ofthe hollow and has one of its ends extendingy into the cylinder II. The other end of the short lever 3|` is pivotally connected with the bottom end of the portion 21b of the member 21. This connectionis accomplished by means of a pin 33 extending from the portion 21b`and engaging an elongated slot 34 formed in the short lever 3|. When the piston I4 yreaches the bottom of the cylinder it is adapted to strike against the `short lever 3I and pivot the same slightly to correspondingly pivot the lever 26 to cause both the red and green lamps to bedrawn into the .hollow IIb.`

Thelever `2Iilhas three positions, one in which thered 1amp..23 is exposed, a second in which the greenlamp 24 is exposed, and a third in which both the red and green lamps will be disposed within thehhollow Hb. A pair of leaf springs 35. arexedly attached to the rear wall of the hollow IilbonV either sideof the member 21 and each is formedwith a pair of oifset portions 35aL and .35. A lug 36 is attached to the rear edge of the portion 21b of the member 21 and is adapted to be selectively engaged in the recesses for holding thelever 26 in one of its three possible positions. When the lug 36 is in the position shown bythe full lines in Fig.` 3 the red lamp 23` will be extended. When the piston I4 moves downwards to expose the green lamp it will cause the lug 36 to be drawn past the recesses 35a and engage it into the recesses 351. When the lug reaches the recesses 35b the member 21 can go no lower and the green lamp 24 will be exposed from within the hollow portion IIb.

Further movement of the piston I4 will'cause theclip 36 to-snap off the offset portion 21a freeing the piston and permitting it to move to its complete down position. When reachingitscom-f plete down position the bottom portion of the" piston will strike against the short lever 3|, moving the member 21 upwards and causing the lug 36 to be engaged into the recesses 35a to pivot the lever 36 to a position in which both bulbs will be disposed within the hollow IIb. A means is provided for drawing the member 21 downwards. This means comprises a spring 31 operating between a pin 38 and the oifset portion 21a of the member 21 for normally urging this member downwards.

A means is provided for lighting each of the red lamps when in their lowered position and a similar means is provided for lighting each of the green lamps when in their lowered positions. This means comprises an electrical circuit 39 and includes a source of power 4D and a switch 4I for controlling the operation of the circuit. The circuit 29 has a lead 39aL and a lead 39h. Branch leads 4D are connected to the line 39b and are extended into the cylinders II along the lugs 25 andare connected with the center contacts of each of the bulbs 23 and 24.

Branch'leads 4I, two for each of the cylinders II, extend into the cylinders and are connected withtelescopic contacts 42 mounted within the cylinders on either side of the lugs 25 and one aboveeachof the ends of the lever 26. These contacts comprise a section 422L and a movable:

section 42h; A spring 43 is provided for urging the sections 42b into their extended positions. Springcontacts 44 are mounted upon the ends of the lever 26 and are engageable against the sections 42b for urging them into the sections 42a" when the proper end of the lever 26 is raised to complete a circuit therethrough. The circuits for the lamps are so arranged that when the end having the green bulb 24 is urged upwards itV will complete acircuit through the red bulb whichl has been extended for lighting the same. In thev same manner when the end having( the red bulb 23 is raised it will4 complete a circuit for lighting the `green lampA 24V which has been, extended. When the lever 26 isrin a horizontal position or` one in which both lamps are retracted, the circuit willibe openv and neither lamp will be lit.

A white bulb 44` isV mounted within` each of the pistons I4-and=isviewablethroughthe glass l I5 for permittingwthe" movement ofA the pistons to be easily followed. The ciruit 3 9 also has a pair of. leaclssaV and tedanieafil4 of the white bulbs is connected in parallel with the leads 391? andV 39%` in a vmanner so thatvtl'le lamps will be continuouslylit when therswit'ch 4 I is in its closed position.

The operation of this device is as follows:

For `oscillating the pistons' I4 within the cylinders II the motor I9 is set in operation causing the crank shaft I6 to be rotated. As the crank shaft I6 rotates the piston I4 will move up and down therein. While the pistons are moving up and down the white bulbs 44 will be continually lit permitting the movement of the pistons to be easily followed. .When the pistons reach the top of their stroke they will strike against the offset portion 21D of the member 21 causing the lever 26 to be pivoted `to expose the red lamps 23 and complete the circuit for lighting these lamps to indicate that the pistons `have reached the top of their stroke.

When the pistons I4 start moving downwards theclip 21 engaging'the'goffset'portion 21a will cause the member 21t`obe pulleddownwards to pivot the lever 26 to expose the green bulbs 24.`

When the green bulbs are exposed the lug 26 from the member 21 will be engaged into the bottom recesses 35h, of the leaf. springs 35 to limit further downward movement of the member 21. When the green bulb is extended a circuit will be completed for lighting this lamp to indicate that the piston |4 is moving downwards. When the piston reached its complete down position it will strike against the short lever 3| causing the member 21 to be moved upwards until the lug 36 engages into the recesses 35a of the leaf springs 35 pivoting the lever 26 to the horizontal, or in a position in which both lamps will be located within the hollow ||b with neither one lit. This position indicates that the piston is moving upwards.

Acco-rding to the Vmodiiication of the invention shown in Figs. 8-10 a plurality of pistons 56 are slidably mounted in cylinders formed in a body 52. The front of the body 52 is open and is provided with a glass 53 for closing this open side. Screws 54 engage through openings formed in the edges of the glass 53 and threadedly engage into the body 52 for holding the glass in position on the open side thereof. Each of the pistons 50 is connected with a downwardly extended rod 55. Each of the rods 55 has its bottom end turnably connected with oiset portions formed in a motor driven crankshaft 56 for causing the pistons 50 to oscillate up and down withinthe cylinders 5|.

Each of the pistons 5D is formed with an open side adjacent the open side of the body 52. A glass 51 is provided for closing the open side of each of the pistons 50. An insulation member 58 is mounted within each of the pistons 50 behind the glass 51 and a plurality of rows of electric light bulbs are mounted upon this member.` These rows of bulbs are arranged in a particular manner and are provided with contacts for the successive lighting of each pair of rows as the piston moves downward. The two top rows of bulbs 59 are white; the two intermediate rows of bulbs 60 are yellow, and the two bottom rows of bulbs 6| are red. A green electric bulb in the form of an arrow 62 is mounted upon the top wall of each of the cylinders 5| and has its bottom end viewable through the glass 52 and is also adapted to be lit when the piston is moved downwards.

Four contact members 63, 64, 65 and 66 are mounted across the back of each of the pistons 56 and are adapted to control lighting of the bulbs 59, 69, 6| and 62. The contact member 63 is adapted to engage against a complementary contact member 63e mounted upon the back wall of the cylinder 5| for controlling the operation of the green arrow 62.

The contact member 64 is adapted to engage against a complementary contact member 64a mounted upon the back wall of the cylinder 5| ior controlling the operation oi the two rows of red bulbs 6|. The contact member 65 is adapted to engage a complementary contact member 65 also mounted upon the back wall of the cylinder 5l for controlling the operation of the two rows of yellow bulbs 66. The contact member 66 is adapted to engage a complementary contact member 66a mounted upon the back Wall of the cylinder 5| for controlling the operation of the two rows of white lights 59. The contact member 63a is of a length substantially equal to the distance through which the pistons 50 oscillate for permitting the green arrow 62 to be lit during the entire power stroke of each piston.

The complementary contact members 64a, 65a, and 66a, are mounted in staggered relation to each upon the rear wall of the cylinder 5| for causing the rows of lights 59; 66 and 6| to be successively illuminated as the piston 50 moves downwards on its power stroke.

A circuit is provided which is controlled by the movement of the cylinder to cause the lights to be lit only on a downward stroke. This circuit includes a source of power 61 and a lead for each of the bulbs 59, 60, 6| and 62. A lead 68 includes the green arrow 62, the contact member 63 and its complementary contact member 63e. A lead 69 includes the contact member 64, the two rows of red bulbs 6|, and the CQmplementarycOntact member 64a for controlling the lighting of the red bulbs 6|. A lead 10 includes the contact member 65, the two rows of yellow lights 60, and the complementary contact member 65a for controlling the lighting of the yellow bulbs 60. A lead 1| y Vincludes the contact member 66, the two rows of white lights 59, and the complementary contact member 66a for controlling the lighting of the white bulbs 59.

A switch 12 is mounted at the base of each of the cylinders 5| and is controlled in a novel manner by the oscillation of each of the pistons 50 for controlling the operation of the circuit to prevent the bulbs to be lit only upon the downward stroke of the piston. One contact 12a of the switch 12 is stationarily mounted and the other contact 12b.

is mounted on a lever 13 pivotally mounted intermediate of its ends on a pin 14 extending from the rear wall of a cavity 15 formed in each of the cylinders 5| behind the pistons 50. The free end of each of the levers 13 is formed with an elongated slot 16 into which a pin 11 extends. Each of the pins 11 is mounted upon the bottom end of a lever 11 which extends upwards within an extension cavity 15a formed at one end of the cavity 15. A spring 18 is mounted upon the side wall of the extension cavity 15a and bears against the adjacent face of the lever 11 for holding the same in its adjusted positions.

The top and bottom ends of the lever 11 are formed with inwardly extending pins 19, and 80. The pin 19 is adapted to be urged upwards by engagement with the top end of the pistons 5|] when it reaches the top of its upward stroke for pivoting the lever 13 to close the switch 12 and permit the current to flow from the source of power 61' through the leads 68, 69, 1D and 1|. When the piston 50 reaches the bottom of its down stroke its bottom end will strike against the pin 85 and urge the lever 11 downwards to pivot the lever 13 and open the switch 12 to prevent new current from passing there-through to cause the contact members 63, 64, 65 and 66 to be inoperative when the piston 59 moves upwards. The device as shown in the drawings is a motor design sign and not an educational device for illustrating the cycle of a gasoline or similar motor. While it is in the form of a motor it is proposed that the device be placed in a store window or similar show place merely to attract the attention of passersby as the lights light on the downward strokes of the pistons. The operation of the lights is one which is believed to be best suited for the purpose of attracting attention.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed .and the right is reserved to all changes and modications coming within the scope of the inveniton as deined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I mounted within a hollow top portion of each claim as new, and desire to secure by United States. Letters Patent is:

l. A motor driven sign with electric bulbs, comprising a body having a plurality of cylinders with open sides, a piston in each cylinder viewable through said. open sides and also having openA sides adjacent said open side, means for reciprocating said pistons in a specic relationship with respect to each other, a green lamp mounted within a hollow tcp portion of each cylinder, a plurality of pairs of rows of diiierently colored-bulbs mounted within each of said pistons and viewable through open sides, and a means for causing said green lamp to be continuously lit on each downward sttroke of each oi' said pistons,` and for causing each pair of rows of differently colored bulbs to be successively lit upon. the downward stroke of said piston.

2. Amotor driven sign with electric bulbs, comprising a body having a plurality of cylinders with open sides, a piston in each cylinder viewable through said open sides and also having open sides adjacent said open side, means for reciprocating said pistons in a specific relationship with respect to each other, a green lamp ton, said means comprising a row of contacts mounted upon the back of said piston, a contact for one of said contacts of a length substantially equal to the distance through which said piston moves for causing said green light `to be lit, and .a contact for each of the other contacts in said group of contacts and arranged in staggered relation to each other upon the rear wall of each of said cylinders and contactable successively by said contacts on said piston during said downward stroke, and a circuit connecting complementary contacts together in series and each of said circuits including certain of said lamps.

3.` A motor driven sign with electric bulbs, comprising a body having a plurality of cylinders with open sides, a piston in each cylinder viewable through said open sides and also having opensidesi adjacent said open side, means for reciprocating said pistons in a specic relationship with respect to each other, a green lamp mounted within a hollow top portion of each cylinder, a plurality of pairs of rows of differently colored bulbs mounted within each of said pistons and; viewable through open sides, and a means for causing said green lamp to be continuously lit on each downward stroke of each of said pistonsand for causing each pair of rows of dilierently colored bulbs to be successively lit upon the downward stroke of said piston, said means comprising a row of contacts mounted upon the back of said piston, a contact for one of said contacts of length substantially equal to the distance through which said piston moves for causing said green light to be lit, and a contact for each of the other contacts in said group of contacts and arranged in staggered relation to each other upon the rear wall of each of said cylinders and contactable successively by said contacts on said piston during said downward stroke, and a circuit connecting complementary contacts together in series and each of said circuits including certain of said lamps, and a means for causing said contacts toy be inoperative on the upward stroke of said pistons.

SALVATORE, MICELI. 

